Your source for orchard news & information in the Sacramento Valley
With continued tight nut markets and high input costs, it’s worth considering all nutrient input options in an effort to lower costs and maintain production. Sustainable nutrient management includes assessment of irrigation nitrate, adding compost manure amendments or almond shells, and using nitrogen-fixing cover crops. Continue reading
With 41 California counties officially in a drought emergency and water allocations significantly reduced in many areas, many growers and managers are stuck with less water than walnuts use for prime production levels. Read this article for more information about how to manage walnut irrigation in drought years. Continue reading
Successful new plantings are key to the economic future of an almond growing operation. Any setbacks in new, non-bearing orchard growth or health can be costly, distracting and stressful. Weed management is a major management focus and potential stress point in young orchard development. Continue reading
Prune prices to California growers are influenced by world production volume that can change, dramatically, from year to year. Read this article for recommendations about how to prepare for next year. Continue reading
Given that N fertilizer mismanagement have increased significantly and the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) have implemented new regulations to prevent agricultural runoff from impairing surface waters, it only makes sense to use available tools to improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE). This article provides more information about what tools are available. Continue reading
Plan for the worst, hope for the best. That’s a tough, solid, strategy as the 2021 season winds down and growers and PCAs look to 2022. Read this article for some considerations when following this strategy. Continue reading
Read this article for almond orchard management tasks to keep in mind in October. Continue reading
Read this article for almond orchard management tasks to keep in mind in June. Continue reading
When prices are lean almond farming is tough business. Read this article to learn about nutrient management considerations when prices are low. Continue reading
Given low precipitation this past winter and low surface water allocations, many growers may be faced with the difficult prospect of using lower quality water for irrigation this season. What should be considered before irrigating with lower quality water? Continue reading
This tutorial introduces the challenges that soils with variable water holding capacity and uncertainty about effective root zones of crops poses to on-farm water management. We consider how these weekly reports of crop ET can be related to site specific … Continue reading
Because the percentage of ant damage is related to how long the nuts remain on the orchard floor, planning for ant management this season is vital. The size of this year’s crop will likely translate into longer periods of almonds sitting on the orchard floor waiting for pick up – especially for growers that depend on contract harvesters. Continue reading
Infections by Rhizopus stolonifera and Aspergillus niger occur after hull split because these are wound pathogens that require an opening to enter and infect the hull. The best, current approach to managing Rhizopus hull rot management includes three parts. The first two steps help to manage the environment, with respect to the disease triangle, while the latter seeks to control the pathogen. Continue reading
Adequate potassium is critical to sustained yields in an almond orchard. There are many approaches to providing almond trees with the potassium they need, depending on your local climate conditions, orchard infrastructure and budget. Continue reading
From the northern San Joaquin Valley to the northern Sacramento Valley, walnut growers are reporting a widespread and alarming issue of walnut trees not leafing out this spring. The initial hypothesis from researchers is that we are seeing frost damage from mid-November, however the symptoms on mature blocks are both more unusual and more severe than autumn freeze events in recent memory. Continue reading